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Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands complex is a typical 70s football stadium,
and now serves as the home of the Giants, Jets, and the MLS Metrostars. Getting to the
stadium is easy, as the complex is served by numerous expressways and the traffic pattern
is somewhat easy to navigate. Parking is abundant and tailgating is evident everywhere,
except that the Meadowlands is pretty much built in the middle of a swamp so the ambience
of this venue is not the greatest.
The stadium operators do their best to transform this venue from the Giants to the Jets by
changing the astroturf color in the endzone, wall padding, etc. But make no mistake - the
seats are done in Giants blue and red and this is the home of the New Yotk Giants, making
the Jets the second tenant. Nevertheless the Jets pretty much sell out all their games, and
on this day it was no different. The Giants also sell out all their games, in fact, they are sold
out on a season ticket basis, but once their team is out of contention, the fans pretty much
stay home, and this was evident on this day as roughly 15-20,000 empty seats greeted the
teams when they took the field.
Inside Giants Stadium
Tight, tight concourses with concession stands and vending carts obstructing everything.
Navigating this building can be a chore. The only thing high tech about this stadium are
streaming sports tickers at several points in the concourses. New jumbotrons recently
installed in each end zone provide superior clarity and viewing.
One of the notable things in each corner of the stadium just inside the entrance is a
changable mural hanging high above the alcove. This mural depicts Jets players and can
change to show Giants players depending who is on the field that day.
Premium seats
There are indoor skyboxes located high above the seating bowl on one side of the stadium,
and they are served by their own private entrance and elevator. Interestingly, the 200 level
is well configured to be a premium club level, but no amenities exist to make this a true
club such as those that exist in peer facilities.
Concessions
Ample points of sale, and the local specialty "knishes", stand out among the usual ballpark
dreck. In each corner one can find specialty stands featuring italian sausages and cheese
steaks.
Banners/retired numbers
Weeb Ewbank and Joe Namath have their names proudly displayed along the field level
wall. These banners disappear when the building is converted for Giants use.
The Giants have a long and storied history, with many notables enshrined in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. Darned if you'd know that from looking around this place, since there
are no retired numbers, ring of fame, memorabilia etc. to commemorate the great players
and accomplishments.
Touchdowns, extra points, fumbles
Touchdown - For Jets games, the signature chant here is "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" A fan in
the end zone first row gets it started and they even show him on the video board. Kinda
cool!
Extra point - For the Jets game we sat in the upper deck kind of high, and we were
"entertained" by a girl who danced topless pretty much the whole second half. Of course,
the louts sitting around here egged her on to do more. No security. No ushers. Not a place
to bring the kids!
Fumble - Jets fans - These fans are a%#holes, and we are being kind. We wore Bills colors,
and were stopped on a couple occasions in the corridors by Jets fans spewing profanities.
We could never imagine behaving like that to visitors who come to Buffalo to cheer for
their teams. Thanks for all the LOVE, New York!
Touchdown (or should we say, SACK) - On our second visit, we got to witness Giants DE
Michael Strahan set the all time season sack record when he "nailed" Brett Favre in the
closing minutes of the game. Add the thousands who left early among those who never
showed, and believe us when we say the stadium was 2/3 empty when this all happened.
Extra point - Restrooms here aren't labeled "Men and Women", but rather "Gentlemen and
Ladies". And of course, all New York fans are real "gentlemen", RIGHT?
Fumble - With the turn of the New Year, the karma of the Ultimate Sports Road Trip came to
an end as the Packers took an early lead and never looked back, upending the Giants by a
34-25 score, thus ending the home team streak at 14 games.
Summary
All this wealth, all the corporations, when is New York gonna build themselves a state of the
art stadium?! This place is "OK", but nothing, and we mean NOTHING, special to write home
about. We squeeze out a 3 star rating here, but that is really being a tad generous. If you
are looking for a great NFL experience, we would recommend other venues. Heck, a Jets
game at Shea or a Giants game at Yankee Stadium would probably be a cooler football
experience!
SCORING - NEW YORK JETS:
Architecture: 5
Food and team store 4.5
Scoreboard and electronics 4
Ushers 5.5
Fan support 7
Location and neighborhood 6.5
Banners and history 4
In game entertainment 3
Concourses/fan comfort 6
Bonus: Tailgate scene 2, Fireman Ed (J-E-T-S guy) 2; Topless chick 1
Total 50.5
SCORING:
Architecture: 5
Food and team store 4.5
Scoreboard and electronics 4
Ushers 5.5
Fan support 7
Location and neighborhood 6.5
Banners and history 0
In game entertainment 3
Concourses/fan comfort 6
Bonus: Tailgate scene 2, Michael Strahan sack show 1
Total 44.5
and now serves as the home of the Giants, Jets, and the MLS Metrostars. Getting to the
stadium is easy, as the complex is served by numerous expressways and the traffic pattern
is somewhat easy to navigate. Parking is abundant and tailgating is evident everywhere,
except that the Meadowlands is pretty much built in the middle of a swamp so the ambience
of this venue is not the greatest.
The stadium operators do their best to transform this venue from the Giants to the Jets by
changing the astroturf color in the endzone, wall padding, etc. But make no mistake - the
seats are done in Giants blue and red and this is the home of the New Yotk Giants, making
the Jets the second tenant. Nevertheless the Jets pretty much sell out all their games, and
on this day it was no different. The Giants also sell out all their games, in fact, they are sold
out on a season ticket basis, but once their team is out of contention, the fans pretty much
stay home, and this was evident on this day as roughly 15-20,000 empty seats greeted the
teams when they took the field.
Inside Giants Stadium
Tight, tight concourses with concession stands and vending carts obstructing everything.
Navigating this building can be a chore. The only thing high tech about this stadium are
streaming sports tickers at several points in the concourses. New jumbotrons recently
installed in each end zone provide superior clarity and viewing.
One of the notable things in each corner of the stadium just inside the entrance is a
changable mural hanging high above the alcove. This mural depicts Jets players and can
change to show Giants players depending who is on the field that day.
Premium seats
There are indoor skyboxes located high above the seating bowl on one side of the stadium,
and they are served by their own private entrance and elevator. Interestingly, the 200 level
is well configured to be a premium club level, but no amenities exist to make this a true
club such as those that exist in peer facilities.
Concessions
Ample points of sale, and the local specialty "knishes", stand out among the usual ballpark
dreck. In each corner one can find specialty stands featuring italian sausages and cheese
steaks.
Banners/retired numbers
Weeb Ewbank and Joe Namath have their names proudly displayed along the field level
wall. These banners disappear when the building is converted for Giants use.
The Giants have a long and storied history, with many notables enshrined in the Pro
Football Hall of Fame. Darned if you'd know that from looking around this place, since there
are no retired numbers, ring of fame, memorabilia etc. to commemorate the great players
and accomplishments.
Touchdowns, extra points, fumbles
Touchdown - For Jets games, the signature chant here is "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" A fan in
the end zone first row gets it started and they even show him on the video board. Kinda
cool!
Extra point - For the Jets game we sat in the upper deck kind of high, and we were
"entertained" by a girl who danced topless pretty much the whole second half. Of course,
the louts sitting around here egged her on to do more. No security. No ushers. Not a place
to bring the kids!
Fumble - Jets fans - These fans are a%#holes, and we are being kind. We wore Bills colors,
and were stopped on a couple occasions in the corridors by Jets fans spewing profanities.
We could never imagine behaving like that to visitors who come to Buffalo to cheer for
their teams. Thanks for all the LOVE, New York!
Touchdown (or should we say, SACK) - On our second visit, we got to witness Giants DE
Michael Strahan set the all time season sack record when he "nailed" Brett Favre in the
closing minutes of the game. Add the thousands who left early among those who never
showed, and believe us when we say the stadium was 2/3 empty when this all happened.
Extra point - Restrooms here aren't labeled "Men and Women", but rather "Gentlemen and
Ladies". And of course, all New York fans are real "gentlemen", RIGHT?
Fumble - With the turn of the New Year, the karma of the Ultimate Sports Road Trip came to
an end as the Packers took an early lead and never looked back, upending the Giants by a
34-25 score, thus ending the home team streak at 14 games.
Summary
All this wealth, all the corporations, when is New York gonna build themselves a state of the
art stadium?! This place is "OK", but nothing, and we mean NOTHING, special to write home
about. We squeeze out a 3 star rating here, but that is really being a tad generous. If you
are looking for a great NFL experience, we would recommend other venues. Heck, a Jets
game at Shea or a Giants game at Yankee Stadium would probably be a cooler football
experience!
SCORING - NEW YORK JETS:
Architecture: 5
Food and team store 4.5
Scoreboard and electronics 4
Ushers 5.5
Fan support 7
Location and neighborhood 6.5
Banners and history 4
In game entertainment 3
Concourses/fan comfort 6
Bonus: Tailgate scene 2, Fireman Ed (J-E-T-S guy) 2; Topless chick 1
Total 50.5
SCORING:
Architecture: 5
Food and team store 4.5
Scoreboard and electronics 4
Ushers 5.5
Fan support 7
Location and neighborhood 6.5
Banners and history 0
In game entertainment 3
Concourses/fan comfort 6
Bonus: Tailgate scene 2, Michael Strahan sack show 1
Total 44.5
| Giants Stadium |
#46
Giants
Stadium
East
Rutherford,
New Jersey
September
17,
2000
Buffalo Bills
at
New York
Jets
#108
Giants
Stadium
East
Rutherford,
New Jersey
January 6,
2002
Green Bay
Packers
at
New York
Giants
Giants
Stadium
East
Rutherford,
New Jersey
September
17,
2000
Buffalo Bills
at
New York
Jets
#108
Giants
Stadium
East
Rutherford,
New Jersey
January 6,
2002
Green Bay
Packers
at
New York
Giants
